Blue Ridge Motorcycling Magazine

North Carolina

Fontana Village: The Perfect Place to Make Memories

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Fontana Village is where fun comes with the territory and lasting memories are made generation after generation. We’re nestled in the Nantahala National Forest in the mountains of Western North Carolina, making us a perfect year-round destination. Our mission is to create an honest Smokies experience for our guests and to ensure that they’ll remember their stay with us for a … [Read more...] about Fontana Village: The Perfect Place to Make Memories

Meltdown vintage bike show

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Each April, vintage motorcycle enthusiasts gather for the annual Meltdown vintage bike show in Hendersonville, North Carolina, where hundreds of riders and spectators coming together to celebrate old bikes in a street festival atmosphere. This year’s event takes place April 25 at the usual venue, Southern Appalachian Brewery on Locust Street in Hendersonville. “I’ve been … [Read more...] about Meltdown vintage bike show

Born into beemers: Passion for airheads becomes a career for father and son

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By Michael E. Gouge Eddie Plam’s childhood playground doesn’t look too different from his current workplace, a brightly lit room filled with airhead BMWs and his proud father watching from nearby. “My dad was a BMW dealer from 1985 to 2008, so essentially I grew up in a BMW shop,” said the 32-year-old California native. “I grew up around these old bikes. I remember taking … [Read more...] about Born into beemers: Passion for airheads becomes a career for father and son

Gene Bell: Here to help, here to ride

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Clearly, Gene Bell does not know how to retire. At 73, he still works part-time for the organization he headed for the past 14 years, the Housing Authority of the City of Asheville. And he’s heavily involved in founding a new charter school in Asheville, PEAK Academy, which will focus on low-income, African-American students. The acronym stands for Prepare and Empower to … [Read more...] about Gene Bell: Here to help, here to ride

Don’t be bitten by The Dragon: Slay it with these tips

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Spring through fall, motorcyclists from across the globe make the migration to a top motorcycling mecca: The Dragon. Nestled in the scenic Smoky Mountains and stretching across the North Carolina and Tennessee border, The Dragon boasts 318 exhilarating, twisting curves in 11 miles. These are no ordinary curves. The road serves up a challenging mix of decreasing radius corners, … [Read more...] about Don’t be bitten by The Dragon: Slay it with these tips